My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils are back home…

The third place Phillies (14-12, 1.5 games behind) are back home and begining a six games home stand by starting a three games series with the San Diego Padres (10-16), who are presently tied for last place in the National League West. The game starts at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 pm Eastern. The starter for the Phils will be Cole Hamel (2-3, 2.75) who is coming off of a bad outing against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 23, where he pitched seven innings and facing two batters in the eighth, as he gave up five earned runs while striking out eleven Brewers in the 5-4 Phillies lost to the Brew Crew. He is presently looking to end a personal two-game losing streak. His opponent for the night will be Greg Maddux (2-1, 3.66), who is for the third time trying to win his 350th career victory. His last game, also pitched on April 23, was a no decision against the San Francisco Giants, where he pitched seven innings, giving up no runs and four hits, in a game that was eventually lost by the Padres in thirteen innings, 3-2. His previous start was a lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks back on April 18th, where he went seven innings, giving up nine earned runs in a 9-0 Arizona victory. So, this is a game between a future hall of famer and a future pitching ace, and both looking for their third win of the season. Which one will prevail tonight?

Also, Shane Victorino will be back in the lineup. Hopefully, Charlie Manuel will be keeping Jayson Werth’s hot bat in the lineup at either left or right field, while the Flying Hawaiian will be getting his batting grove back in center field, after coming off of the disable list.

I’d noticed that too when I’d looked at Phillies Insider’s blog and took a hard look at the line-up that he had posted there. My first thoughts upon seeing that Shane wasn’t in the line-up? What the….???? Hopefully, Gentleman Charlie knows what he’s doing.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.